Third term comments no longer a joke, says President Trump
President Donald Trump says he’s “not joking” about possibly running for a third term. This would require a constitutional amendment.
WASHINGTON – The Trump Organization is now selling “Trump 2028” hats as President Donald Trump continues to float the idea of seeking an unconstitutional third term in the White House.
The online Trump store on April 24 began selling red ballcaps with “Trump 2028” embroidered on the front for $50.
The store is operated by the Trump Organization, the Trump family’s company, not Trump’s campaign committee, which operates a different online store where the same hat is, for the time being, not on sale.
Since returning to the White House for a second term, Trump has repeatedly teased running for president again in 2028, even though doing so is explicitly barred by the 22nd Amendment, which states, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
As recently as a March interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Trump, who routinely shirks enshrined norms, said, “I’m not joking,” when asked about running for a third term.
“A lot of people want me to do it,” he said. “But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it’s very early in the administration.”
Asked by NBC whether he has been shown plans that would allow him to seek a third term, Trump said: “There are methods which you could do it,” including Vice President JD Vance running for president and then giving the role to Trump.
“There are others, too,” he said, but refused to share more about what he meant.
To change the Constitution, an amendment can be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate, or two-thirds of state legislatures can call a constitutional convention. Then three-fourths of the state legislatures or conventions (38 of 50) must ratify it.
Trump teases third term, Constitution forbids it
Although President Donald Trump continues to talk about a third term, the Constitution says he can’t.
The last – and only – president to serve more than two terms was Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was elected to third and fourth terms amid the instability of the Great Depression and World War II. The 22nd Amendment was subsequently ratified by Congress in 1951.
Contributing: Riley Beggin, USA TODAY
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.